Chapter 367: The

Not long after Cao Yang arrived at the awards ceremony and sat down, he suddenly felt the atmosphere in the auditorium seem to congeal.

Old Tian, sitting beside him, said softly, "It's starting."

Cao Yang looked at Old Tian, who was currently staring intently at the presenter who had just walked onto the stage, his expression having grown much more serious.

Cao Yang did not know if Old Tian was speaking to him or to himself.

Because what followed was the main event of the night—the awards for the main competition section were about to be presented.

The first to be presented was the Best Newcomer Award; this could be considered an appetizer.

For directors aiming to win major awards at the Venice Film Festival, this award was a bit of a consolation prize; there was a great fear that if it were given, no other awards would follow.

But for a new actor, it was the best form of encouragement and recognition.

Therefore, after the presenter announced that the winner was the actress Hafsia Herzi for the French film *The Secret of the Grain*, this French actress of Algerian and Tunisian descent appeared exceptionally excited.

Meanwhile, the director of *The Secret of the Grain*, Abdellatif Kechiche, only clapped symbolically, looking as though his smile was a bit forced.

The awards at the three major European film festivals are limited; generally speaking, once a consolation prize is given, it is truly difficult to win other major awards.

Unless there are some external reasons, such as the film festival wanting to promote you, or your film fitting the theme of that year's festival—in other words, the political correctness of that year's festival.

The next award presented was actually the Jury Prize, another consolation-type award.

Don't be fooled by the one-character difference between the Jury Prize and the Grand Jury Prize; their weight is not in the same league.

The Grand Jury Prize is the award second only to the top prize and carries more weight than Best Director, while the Jury Prize, compared to other awards, can only be described as better than nothing.

Well, it’s about on par with the Best Newcomer Award.

This award was given to the American film *In the Valley of Elah*, with the lead actors being Tommy Lee Jones and Oscar winner Charlize Theron.

Both of them had only arrived yesterday, just in time to attend the closing ceremony red carpet.

Cao Yang couldn't help but think, is Old Ma trying to divide the cake? Can't let people come for nothing? Trying to rebuild the credibility Venice lost in the eyes of the Americans?

The third award presented was the Best Technical Contribution Award; the presenter usually explains that this is most often given to the cinematographer.

This award is not really a consolation prize; it is one of the fixed awards at the Venice Film Festival in recent years.

Consolation prizes are generally not permanent awards; they are the kind brought out when needed and left unused most of the time.

After the winning cinematographer finished their acceptance speech, the next presenter took the stage and began to talk about the importance of a script in a film.

Well, Jiang Wen might not agree with this point; as long as he has a rough idea, he dares to pull together a film crew after writing just two pages of a so-called script.

Then, he writes the script and dialogue on set, adding them in whenever he has an idea or inspiration.

To Jiang Wen, what script? What is that?

Of course, Wong Kar-wai might be even more exaggerated than Jiang Wen.

At least Jiang Wen has a rough train of thought and will write two pages of a script in his hand first; as for Wong Kar-wai, to him, it makes no difference whether there is a script or not—anyway, even if there is one, it doesn't count for much.

"Who do you think will win the Best Screenplay award?"

Old Tian asked Cao Yang in a low voice as he saw the broadcast camera pointed at the presenter.

"Me."

Cao Yang raised an eyebrow at Old Tian and said with a smile.

He wanted to know if Old Tian would be worried if *Pieta* won the Silver Lion for Best Screenplay.

Old Tian didn't have a particular expression, just curled his lip, "You're that confident?"

Cao Yang smiled; he was just that confident.

Nonsense, Old Ma said he wanted to give me a little surprise; thinking it over, only the Silver Lion for Best Screenplay truly belongs to me, and it can only be this surprise.

Of course, there was another reason why Cao Yang was so confident.

Generally, the order of presentation is to give the Best Actress award first, then the Best Actor award.

As a presenter for Best Actress, Cao Yang had been notified that Best Actor would be presented first this year, and he was to go backstage during the Best Actor presentation to prepare for presenting Best Actress.

The key is that after the Best Screenplay award was presented, the next was Best Actress, and this year they had swapped the order of Best Actress and Best Actor.

Isn't that obvious?

Sure enough, after the presenter rambled on for a while, they opened the envelope and said, "The winner of Best Screenplay is, *Pieta*, Cao Yang."

"Clap, clap, clap..."

The applause rang out, much more enthusiastic than when the Best Technical Award was presented just moments ago.

"You kid, not bad."

Old Tian patted Cao Yang on the shoulder; there was no hypocritical hug, as there was no need for it.

"Congratulations, congratulations, Director Cao."

Fu Dalong stood up and said to Cao Yang while clapping.

"Congratulations, Director Cao, I knew such a good script would definitely win an award."

Kara Wai did not shy away; she gave Cao Yang a light hug and said with a smile.

"It's a pity, out of the five Chinese-language films selected for the main competition, only ours received the notification to stay."

Old Tian sighed with emotion from the side, though it was unclear if he was truly emotional or just couldn't help but want to show off.

Cao Yang pretended not to hear and went up to the stage to receive the award.

When Cao Yang received the award from the presenter and was giving his acceptance speech, Fu Dalong couldn't help but look with envy at Cao Yang, who was speaking eloquently, and asked Old Tian in a low voice:

"Director Tian, do we still have a chance tonight?"

Kara Wai, sitting nearby, seemed to have heard Fu Dalong's words; although she appeared to be watching Cao Yang on stage, her body leaning toward Old Tian indicated that she was also very concerned about whether *Pieta* could win more awards.

Old Tian understood the two of them.

Since they had been notified to stay, who wouldn't want to win a major award?

Fu Dalong definitely wanted to win the Venice Best Actor award in his heart.

Kara Wai surely also wanted to win the Venice Best Actress award.

Among the actors present today, one by one, who wasn't pinning their hopes on Best Actor or Best Actress?

Old Tian certainly wanted to produce a Venice Best Actor or Best Actress winner.

It's a pity, Venice would never give a Golden Lion plus Best Actor or Golden Lion plus Best Actress after giving the Best Screenplay; these are all fixed major awards—giving two is possible, but three is absolutely impossible.

"How would I know? Hopefully, they'll give another major award."

Old Tian put on an expression of "I also really hope we can win another award."

At this moment, Cao Yang finished his acceptance speech, and the whole venue responded with enthusiastic applause.

Fu Dalong and Kara Wai also clapped hard.

After Cao Yang returned and the applause died down, the next presenter took the stage; he handed the Silver Lion to Old Tian and said, "Hold this, I'm going to present an award."

Watching Cao Yang quietly leave, Fu Dalong's heart was in his throat.

For the past two days, there had been rumors that Director Cao would be a presenter for Best Actor or Best Actress; he hadn't expected it to be true.

According to the normal process, the next award is Best Actress, and since the presenter had already taken the stage, it was very likely that Director Cao was going to present Best Actor.

Best Actor, the Venice Best Actor!

Would Venice deliberately pull a stunt and have a Chinese director present the award to a Chinese actor? Wouldn't that be a beautiful story?

Fu Dalong was still somewhat confident in his acting in *Pieta*.

"...Next, I am going to present the award for Best Actor..."

Fu Dalong was stunned; what was going on?

Had the order of awards changed? In that instant, Fu Dalong felt his heart go cold; so, Director Cao was going to prepare to present Best Actress.

Do I still have hope?

Fu Dalong stared at the presenter, wanting to hear those three most familiar words from their mouth.

"The winner of the 64th Venice International Film Festival Best Actor is... Brad Pitt, *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford*, congratulations."

The corners of Fu Dalong's mouth twitched slightly; he clapped mechanically and listened intently, hoping to hear "and..."

Unfortunately, there were no "double yolks" for Best Actor tonight; only Brad Pitt won the Venice Best Actor award alone.

After Pitt went on stage, Fu Dalong said to Old Tian in a low voice, "Director Tian, let me see Director Cao's Silver Lion."

Old Tian also felt a bit sorry for Fu Dalong; he felt that Fu Dalong's performance in *Pieta* was worth a Best Actor award.

Fu Dalong took the Silver Lion, first weighing it in his hand, then stroking it as if he couldn't put it down; he knew this might be the closest he would ever get to a Silver Lion in his life.

Prompted by the staff, Cao Yang walked out from backstage and arrived at the microphone.

"You all know what I am about to present; that's right, the Best Actress of the night."

Cao Yang didn't say any nonsense and spoke directly into the microphone:

"This will be the third Venice Best Actress born from my hands; although this one did not become Best Actress because of my film, I will personally hand the Silver Lion representing the Best Actress to her in a moment."

Cao Yang glanced at the guests below who were laughing, and also said with a smile, "So, who will it be?"

He opened the envelope, took a look, and without playing hard to get, said into the microphone, "Cate Blanchett, *I'm Not There*, congratulations."

Cate Blanchett won the Venice Best Actress award by cross-dressing as a man; one has to say, it was quite interesting.

"It is an honor to be your third Venice Best Actress, thank you."

After Cate Blanchett came up, she hugged Cao Yang, kissed him on the cheek, and said with a smile in Cao Yang's ear.

Cao Yang smiled; this "Great Demon King" seemed to have a hidden meaning in her words.

Come to think of it, Cate Blanchett is relatively age-resistant among Westerners; she is now in her late thirties, almost forty. If it were other white women, including actresses, many would already look very old at this age.

Cate Blanchett, however, did not look that old.

Cao Yang discovered that it seemed the actresses of Australian origin he knew who were developing in Hollywood were relatively more age-resistant compared to some other Western actresses.

For example, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Rachel Griffiths, etc.

"Have you noticed a problem?"

After the awards ceremony finished and Cao Yang returned, Old Tian whispered to him.

"What's the problem?"

Old Tian looked up; the broadcast camera was focused on the new presenter who had just taken the stage, so he said, "Old Ma has completely compromised with Hollywood. How many awards are there in total at Venice? You count how many he's given to the Americans."

Cao Yang hadn't considered this issue before, but hearing Old Tian bring it up, he did a quick calculation.

The Jury Prize went to the American film *In the Valley of Elah*.

The Best Technical Contribution Award went to the American film *Atonement*.

Best Actress went to Cate Blanchett for the American film *I'm Not There*.

Best Actor went to Brad Pitt for the American film *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford*.

So far, only six awards had been presented in the main competition, and they had actually given four to the Americans!

It really is a shock once you actually count it up.

Hmm, this seems to fit the image of the Italians, doesn't it? Once they decide to kneel, they do it quite thoroughly.

"There are still three major awards left; they wouldn't give those to the Americans too, would they?"

Cao Yang said softly, feeling somewhat uncertain.

Old Tian let out a scoff, seemingly not believing it.

As if to confirm Old Tian's scoff, the Best Director award unexpectedly resulted in a tie, given to the Italian and European co-production *The Secret Life of Words* and the American film *Redacted*.

Was giving *The Secret Life of Words* a Best Director award meant to appease Europe?

Cao Yang couldn't help but wonder.

However, the subsequent Grand Jury Prize resulted in another tie, given to the French film *The Secret of the Grain* and the American film *I'm Not There*.

Damn, Old Ma, did you have to kneel so thoroughly!

(If you don't believe it, you can search for the 64th Venice Film Festival; the Grand Jury Prize, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best Technical Contribution were all given to the Americans, with only one Best Newcomer award and one half of the tied Grand Jury Prize going to a French film. In fact, even *Lust, Caution*, which won the Golden Lion, was a Chinese-American co-production, and to a certain extent, also an American film.)

Venice has turned into the "Oscars"; almost all the important major awards were given to the Americans.

"Hmph!"

Old Tian expressed his disdain for Old Ma once again; he despised nothing more than art completely compromising with commerce.

Cao Yang looked at Old Tian, not expecting that Old Tian still had some inner principles... well, if the Golden Lion is given to you in a moment, I hope you can "hmph" again.

"Have you noticed that those two European art films are both about immigrants?"

Old Tian said softly.

"*The Secret Life of Words* and *The Secret of the Grain*?"

Cao Yang asked; these two films had each received one half of the ties for Best Director and the Grand Jury Prize respectively.

"I went to see both of these films; they both reflect the immigrant issue. In 2004, the EU began to expand, and a large number of foreign immigrants who didn't speak the language entered Europe.

They do the jobs that local Europeans disdain, living hand-to-mouth, constantly facing the danger of unemployment, yet they struggle to receive fair treatment, let alone achieve the beautiful life they once longed for.

The themes of these two films both reflect this; there's a bit of a compassionate, humanitarian flavor to them."

Cao Yang nodded. During this period, European political correctness was to call for the EU to formulate protective measures for immigrants to safeguard their legal rights and ensure their basic livelihood.

Hmm, it was mainly about standing on the moral high ground, looking down at these immigrants, and focusing on sympathy.

Of course, if one were to film something like *Parasite* at this time, reflecting the social unrest caused by immigrants, that would be suicide; I'm afraid it wouldn't even make it into the main competition.

Wouldn't that be going against the current political correctness?

"Here it comes."

This time, it was Cao Yang who said this to Old Tian with a smile after seeing the presenter take the stage.

Old Tian stared at the stage without blinking, his breathing somewhat rapid, his hands clenched unnaturally, looking somewhat pale.

Hah, and I thought you wouldn't be nervous.

"...The winner of the Best Film at the 64th Venice International Film Festival is, *Still Life*, congratulations!"

"Phew..."

Cao Yang heard Old Tian let out a long breath, his clenched hands relaxed, and his mouth was stretched almost to his ears.

"Director Cao, Director Tian, the Golden Lion, it's the Golden Lion!"

Fu Dalong clenched his hands, looking very excited, and couldn't help but shout.

Hui Yinghong covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide as she looked ahead, still in a state of disbelief.

"Calm down, calm down."

Old Tian stood up amidst the applause, pulled Cao Yang up, and then said to Fu Dalong and Hui Yinghong: "Let's go, let's go, together, together!"

Cao Yang stood up with a smile and teased Old Tian: "Sigh, Old Ma is really out of line; the awards this time are just a mess..."

Old Tian glared at Cao Yang with a smile; he understood Cao Yang's dark sense of humor, but he was happy today and didn't mind playing along.

"What mess? I think Old Ma ran this edition quite well, especially regarding the major awards, objectively achieving the principles of fairness and justice."

Fine, fine, whatever you say; if you say it's objective and fair, then it's objective and fair.

Haha, why aren't you "hmphing" anymore?

(End of chapter)